Need more hard drive space on Dell XPS laptop. Help!

elisa_bs · 12-29-2006, 08:22 AM

I'm down to about 8 gigs free on my hard drive, and I need to upgrade. However, this is my first laptop, and I know nothing about upgrading laptops! I have an XPS M140, only bought about six months ago. I currently have a 50gig HD, and even upgrading 60 or so gigs is more than enough for me. HOWEVER, does one have space for multiple harddrives in a laptop? If so, I could buy a 60gig to equal 120, OR would I have to buy a whole new HD (most likely 100 gigs), and replace the one currently inside, while somehow transferring all my information onto it? Also, I DO NOT want an external HD, it is out of the question.

Please help! I know, I'll also probably have to get someone to install it for me, as well. Does Dell offer these services?

Thanks so much

mcs328 · 12-29-2006, 09:14 AM

I bought a Dell laptop about 6 months ago. Did you noticed that about 20gigs of space is never used except in dire situations? It's a hidden partition just in case your OS gets hosed. I called Dell tech support and they said they ship all laptops that way. You may not be using your full 50gig HD space.

As far as I know there isn't room in a laptop to put in another HD. You would have to upgrade to a new HD of the 2.5" variety.

MikeD · 12-29-2006, 10:51 AM

If you filled up 40 gigs in 6 months, you should probably look at deleting some stuff you don't need. That's alot of room. You may be able to fix the situation without buying any new equipment.

johnnymk · 12-29-2006, 12:00 PM

You could buy an external USB 2.0 hard drive. They are very cheap.

MikeD · 12-29-2006, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnymk

You could buy an external USB 2.0 hard drive. They are very cheap.

Quote:

Originally Posted by elisa

Also, I DO NOT want an external HD, it is out of the question.

Looks like that's a no-go...

zippyjuan · 12-29-2006, 12:23 PM

You could use the external as a back-up. Copy what you want to save onto it and then delete it from the main drive to create more space. You would not need to connect the external often for that. Or copy the info to DVDs or CDs.Do you need regular access to all those programs or files?

elisa_bs · 01-03-2007, 09:19 AM

Thanks for the help, guys. A lot of space on the HD is taken up by music -- and I connect my laptop to external speakers and essentially use it as my stereo. I COULD use an external HD, but I am constantly ripping more music onto this laptop, and I think it would be a pain to be constantly putting in onto a external HD on top of that. I do need to do some housecleaning, though! I'm currently "couch-ridden" as I just got my wisdom teeth out, so a laptop cleaning will be in store!

12-29-2006, 08:22 AM	#1
elisa_bs Ensign Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 12	Need more hard drive space on Dell XPS laptop. Help! I'm down to about 8 gigs free on my hard drive, and I need to upgrade. However, this is my first laptop, and I know nothing about upgrading laptops! I have an XPS M140, only bought about six months ago. I currently have a 50gig HD, and even upgrading 60 or so gigs is more than enough for me. HOWEVER, does one have space for multiple harddrives in a laptop? If so, I could buy a 60gig to equal 120, OR would I have to buy a whole new HD (most likely 100 gigs), and replace the one currently inside, while somehow transferring all my information onto it? Also, I DO NOT want an external HD, it is out of the question. Please help! I know, I'll also probably have to get someone to install it for me, as well. Does Dell offer these services? Thanks so much

12-29-2006, 09:14 AM	#2
mcs328 Admiral Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Maryland Posts: 6,578	I bought a Dell laptop about 6 months ago. Did you noticed that about 20gigs of space is never used except in dire situations? It's a hidden partition just in case your OS gets hosed. I called Dell tech support and they said they ship all laptops that way. You may not be using your full 50gig HD space. As far as I know there isn't room in a laptop to put in another HD. You would have to upgrade to a new HD of the 2.5" variety. __________________

12-29-2006, 10:51 AM	#3
MikeD President, Cowboys Nation Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In the 'burbs, west of D.C. Posts: 5,139	If you filled up 40 gigs in 6 months, you should probably look at deleting some stuff you don't need. That's alot of room. You may be able to fix the situation without buying any new equipment. __________________

12-29-2006, 12:23 PM	#6
zippyjuan Picture of the Day Guru Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sunny San Diego Posts: 8,756	You could use the external as a back-up. Copy what you want to save onto it and then delete it from the main drive to create more space. You would not need to connect the external often for that. Or copy the info to DVDs or CDs.Do you need regular access to all those programs or files? __________________ I add new pictures to my photo gallery pretty regularly. You can see them here if you are interested: http://www.pbase.com/jeffryz

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12-29-2006, 12:00 PM	#4
johnnymk Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: May 2000 Location: LEVITTOWN< PA> USA Posts: 13,621	You could buy an external USB 2.0 hard drive. They are very cheap.

01-03-2007, 09:19 AM	#7
elisa_bs Ensign Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 12	Thanks for the help, guys. A lot of space on the HD is taken up by music -- and I connect my laptop to external speakers and essentially use it as my stereo. I COULD use an external HD, but I am constantly ripping more music onto this laptop, and I think it would be a pain to be constantly putting in onto a external HD on top of that. I do need to do some housecleaning, though! I'm currently "couch-ridden" as I just got my wisdom teeth out, so a laptop cleaning will be in store!

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